Chandigarh: Accusing the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) of behaving like the British East India Company, Punjab Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring on Thursday strongly condemned the state government's decision to appoint a rank outsider as the chairman of the Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission (PSERC).
Outsider appointment sparks controversy
Reacting to the appointment of Sanjay Gupta, a former Himachal Pradesh chief secretary, as the PSERC chairman, Warring stated that the AAP was "humiliating" the people of Punjab by giving positions that rightfully belong to Punjabis to individuals from outside the state. He emphasized that this move was an affront to the sentiments of the local population.
AAP accused of outsourcing government to Delhi
Warring asserted that it is now an established and acknowledged fact that the AAP has outsourced the entire state government to Delhi, with people from the national capital managing all departments. He argued that the latest appointment has further deepened the wounds of Punjabis, who feel sidelined in their own state.
"Why did the AAP not find anyone from Punjab to head the PSERC?" Warring questioned, highlighting that earlier too, the AAP government had appointed chairpersons to various boards and corporations from outside the state. He specifically mentioned the Punjab Pollution Control Board and the Punjab Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) as examples where outsiders were given top posts.
The Congress leader drew a parallel between the AAP's actions and those of the British East India Company, which historically exploited local resources and ignored the aspirations of the native population. He warned that such practices would only alienate the people of Punjab and undermine the trust in the state government.
Warring called upon the AAP to reconsider its policy of appointing outsiders and to respect the rights and sentiments of Punjabis by giving them priority in key positions within the state's regulatory bodies. He also urged the public to remain vigilant against what he termed as the "Delhi-centric" approach of the current administration.
